Chapter Ten

The marquess had positioned Patience on the bed oddly, but it didn’t much matter if her head pointed to one of the bottom corners. They could use the bed as they pleased.

“You’ve been waiting for this a long time.”

“Yes.”

“Now I’m going to fuck you.”

“Please.” She rocked and moaned against him. “Please, fuck me.”

“And you’re going to watch.”

“What?” Did he say…watch?

He grabbed a heavy drape of damask at the head of the bed and tugged. The fabric fell away to reveal a mirror. “Ever used one of these for the one part of you pretty enough to rival your face?”

Despite the depravity of his words, the compliment was a gentle kiss upon her heart. “I’ve never considered such a thing.”

He leaned down and kissed her briefly. “You’ll have to take some time to indulge yourself later. It’s too good. I oughtn’t to be the only one to enjoy your body. You should enjoy your body, too.”

And so she intended.

The marquess smiled wolfishly. “You have no idea what’s waiting for you.”

She wiggled her hips. “I’ve waited long enough, my lord. Give it to me.”

“I told you I’d have you begging for it.”

“Stop teasing me.” She was about to have all she’d been forbidden her entire life. She didn’t want to wait any longer. Not one more second. Cock, she wanted cock. His. Deep and hard and moving inside her.

“I want to, but it’s so difficult when it’s so fun.”

She almost whimpered in frustration. “Don’t be a horse’s ass.”

The blasted man who was torturing her smiled as he wedged himself between her splayed legs, nude, his body strong, broad, and lean. His cock huge and hard. Really more a vulgar extra appendage than anything else. It was more an object to impale rather than insert. His cock would be all hers.

“Open wide, my lovely.” He pushed her thighs apart. “How’s the view?”

The mirror was angled perfectly. She could see everything. Herself. The folds and lines of her quim, the outer lips open, leaving nothing to the imagination. The flesh was the color of wine that hadn’t washed out of linen.

Gently, with his thumb putting light pressure on her clitoris, he slipped two fingers inside her.

Her head fell back as her interior clenched around him. Patience edged close to coming…if she didn’t come soon, she’d go mad. Hands that had explored the textures and sensations of the world, manipulated pens and brushes, escorted ladies, opened doors, and moved utensils from plate to mouth were inside her body.

Now those hands explored her.

“That’s good, isn’t it?” He moved his fingers slowly, in and out as his thumb continued working her clitoris.

Her head rolled to one side and her hips rocked, desperate to urge him deeper. “Yes.”

“You like penetration.”

“So much.”

“Don’t you dare come yet, Miss Emery.”

The prohibition heightened her pleasure. “I’m in your care, my lord.”

“Yes. Yes, you are.” Ashcroft moved closer. His body was warm. Heavy. His every movement confident and insistent.

Patience rocked harder, no longer fully in control of herself. She couldn’t stop, needing the pleasure like a fire needs air to blaze. It built, stronger and stronger.

“I can’t help it. I’m…” Her head thrashed from one side and then the other. “I’m going to…”

And she did. Hard. The tension snapped like a line on a ship. All she could do was submit to the tempest within. Wave after shimmering wave poured through her. One would crest. Another would swell.

A lifetime later, it was through with her. She lay panting, relaxed to the center of her bones.

“You’re fair glowing, Miss Emery.” He withdrew his hand from between her legs and drew the tips of damp fingers around the outline of her mouth. Instinctively, she let her tongue dart out to taste herself.

The marquess moaned. He positioned himself so his hips were near level with hers. His body was between her thighs. Merely having him there brought a hot resurgence of pleasure. It was finally going to happen. Everything she’d wanted for so long. The act itself. Her virginity would be forfeit here, now, and forever more.

Thank God.

“Watch, my lovely, watch.” He jerked his head once toward the mirror. “This is the incredible part. When our bodies come together—made for one another.”

Worry fluttered in her belly. She had to rely upon his confidence that it would work according to plan. “Be careful.” A dismaying note of panic had entered her voice.

He placed a kiss on her forehead. “Always.”

His muscles flexed as if he fought to restrain himself. He was big. Broad. And utterly beautiful.

Patience stared at the mirror, unable to blink lest she miss the sight. Holding himself above her on one arm, he wrapped his free hand around the leviathan he called a cock and placed the engorged head against her body.

He pressed.

Nothing happened.

The muscles on the washboard of his stomach clenched. He pressed again, harder this time, sustaining the pressure. Slightly, her body gave for him.

She winced, and her breath caught in her throat. Dear God, this was happening. Her legs were open, not for a tongue this time, but for a man’s body. A man’s cock. A huge cock, hard and pointed straight into her. The sensation was strange and…uncomfortable.

He was enjoying it—enjoying her. Which was more than she’d ever dared dream.

All the more incredible was that her body could accommodate his. With careful ease, his erection slowly disappeared into her. His massive length stretched and filled her, pushing in most of the way until it bumped against the end of her passage.

Good God. It worked. He’d said it would, and it did.